What are Elevator Safety Codes?

Elevator safety codes are regulations and standards established to ensure the safety and reliability of elevators, escalators, and other vertical transportation systems. These codes are typically developed by national or international organizations and are enforced by government agencies or regulatory bodies responsible for overseeing building safety.

Benefits of application of Elevator Safety Codes:

The application of elevator standard codes for safety offers numerous benefits, ensuring the well-being of passengers, improving operational efficiency, and minimizing the risk of accidents. Here are some key benefits:

Enhance Passenger safety
Reliable Performance
Improves accessibility
Mitigation of fire and Electrical Hazards
Energy Efficiency
Compliance with Regulatory requirements
Industry consistency and best practices
Customer confidence and satisfaction

Types of Safety Codes:

By adhering to various type of elevator safety codes, stakeholder in elevator industry can help and ensure that elevators are safe, reliable and compliant with applicable regulation, standards, and best practices. Below is explanation of most common codes used in elevator industry.

1. ASME Code:

The ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) codes and standards for elevators, including ASME A17.1/CSA B44, are developed by the ASME A17 Standards Committee.

a. Specific Requirements for Elevators: It includes detailed requirements specific to elevator systems, such as car dimensions, hoist way construction, car enclosure, doors and gates, controls, brakes, safety devices, electrical wiring, lighting, and emergency communication systems.

b. Specific Requirements for Escalators and Moving Walks: The standard also addresses specific safety requirements for escalators and moving walks, including step and handrail design, drive systems, safety sensors, landing plates, comb impact devices, and emergency stop controls.

c. Maintenance, Inspection, and Testing: ASME A17.1/CSA B44 provides guidelines for the maintenance, inspection, and testing of elevators and escalators to ensure ongoing compliance with safety standards and regulatory requirements. It includes procedures for routine maintenance, periodic inspections, performance testing, and record-keeping.

d. Emergency Procedures: The standard outlines emergency procedures and requirements for elevator and escalator operation during fire emergencies, power outages, equipment failures, entrapments, and other emergency situations. It includes provisions for emergency power systems, firefighter service, evacuation procedures, and communication protocols.

2. EN Code:

The EN codes for elevators, developed by the European Committee for Standardization (CEN), encompass various standards covering different aspects of the design, construction, installation, operation, and maintenance of elevators and escalators. These standards are crucial for ensuring the safety, reliability, and performance of vertical transportation systems

a. EN 81 Series: The EN 81 series of standards is the primary set of standards for elevators and covers a range of safety aspects. Some important parts of this series include:

EN 81-1: Safety rules for the construction and installation of electric lifts.
EN 81-2: Safety rules for the construction and installation of hydraulic lifts.
EN 81-20: Passenger and goods passenger lifts – Rules for the improvement of safety of existing passenger and goods passenger lifts.
EN 81-28: Rules for maintenance instructions.

b. EN 81-70: This standard focuses specifically on accessibility to lifts for persons with disabilities. It outlines requirements for features such as car dimensions, controls, signaling, and visual and auditory indicators to facilitate accessibility and usability.

c. EN 81-20/50: These standards pertain to the design and construction of lifts, including rules for the improvement of safety of existing lifts and the testing of lift components.

d. EN 115: This standard addresses the safety and accessibility of escalators and moving walks for people with disabilities, including requirements for handrails, step dimensions, and audible signals.

e. EN 115-1 and EN 115-2: These standards specify requirements for the design, construction, and installation of escalators and moving walks, including safety features, operational characteristics, and inspection procedures.

f. EN 81-50: Thisstandard provides guidelines for the design and calculation of lift components, including structural elements, derive systems, and safety devices.

3. ISO Code:

ISO (International Organization for Standardization) publishes several standards relevant to elevators, covering safety, energy efficiency, emergency communication systems, and more. Here are some ISO standards related to elevators:

a. ISO 4190 Series: This series covers safety requirements for various types of lifts, including passenger and goods lifts. Standards in this series include:

ISO 4190-1:2010: Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts – Part 1: Electric lifts
ISO 4190-2:2002: Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts – Part 2: Hydraulic lifts
ISO 4190-6:2010: Safety rules for the construction and installation of lifts – Part 2: Glass lifts

b. ISO 22559 series: This series addresses the energy efficiency of lifts, escalators, and moving walks. Standards in this series include:

ISO 22559-1:2019: Energy performance of lifts, escalators, and moving walks – Part 1: Energy measurement and verification procedures
ISO 22559-2:2019: Energy performance of lifts, escalators, and moving walks – Part 2: Energy efficiency benchmarks and baseline energy demand profiles

c. ISO 18738 series: This series provides guidelines for lift (elevator) emergency communication systems. Standards in this series include:

ISO 18738-1:2012: Lift (elevator) emergency communication systems – Part 1: Requirements for communication systems
ISO 18738-2:2012: Lift (elevator) emergency communication systems – Part 2: Communication devices and interfaces

d. ISO 14798: This standard specifies requirements and test methods for the fire resistance of lift landing doors.

e. ISO 4191: This standard provides guidelines for the calculation of loads in lift systems.